Understanding Your Financial Aid Awards and Billing

Accessing Your Awards

1. Log into SIS:
   • Once on the main dashboard, locate the Financial Aid card. Click the Open Financial Aid Dashboard button.
   • If not selected by default, choose the desired Aid Year from the top right corner of the page.
   • Navigate to the Offer tab.
2. View Your Awards:
   • Here, you’ll see your estimated cost of attendance and financial aid awards.
   • Assumptions:
     • We assume full-time attendance.
     • Room and board allowances are based on an on-campus, double-occupancy room and the average board plan. Actual costs may differ based on your housing choice.
3. Billing Statements:
   • Fall Semester: Issued electronically in July.
   • Spring Semester: Issued in December.
   • Summer Semester: Issued in May.

Important Award and Eligibility Information

• Tuition Remission:
  • If you receive a Rensselaer Tuition Remission benefit, you are ineligible for other Rensselaer scholarships or grants unless your Rensselaer aid would exceed the value of Tuition Remission.
• Award Limits:
  • Undergraduate programs: The combined total of grants, scholarships, education loans, and Federal Work Study cannot exceed the published cost of attendance.
  • Graduate and Coterminal Programs: Total RPI awards cannot exceed tuition charges during graduate enrollment periods, including for Coterminal Degree Program students (effective Fall 2023 or later).
    • The Coterminal Degree Program is available for any undergraduate student who matriculated prior to the Fall 2024 semester. Any students who began their undergraduate enrollment Fall 2024 or later will be eligible to participate in the Accelerated Master's Program. More details on this program can be found here. 
• Other Family Members in College
  • In determining your eligibility for Rensselaer need-based grants and/or scholarships, we do not consider other family members who are attending graduate school nor a parent attending college.  

Cost of Attendance

• Basic Annual Expenses:
  • Your award letter shows basic expenses for the academic year.
  • Health Insurance Fee: Not included in the cost of attendance but may be waived if you have alternate insurance (see Rensselaer Health Center or call 518-276-6287).
  • The official Cost of Attendance is finalized each spring. Before this, an estimated cost is used.
• Additional Costs:
  • Not Directly Billed by Rensselaer: Average Direct Loan fees, personal expenses, and miscellaneous costs.
  • Books and Supplies: Can be charged to your student account if purchased through the Rensselaer Book Store.
  • Excess Aid: Financial aid beyond Rensselaer charges can help cover these additional costs.

Estimated Total Family Cost to Attend Rensselaer

• Our cost of attendance (including books, transportation, and personal expenses) minus financial aid awards.
  • Note: This amount will be higher than your direct billing costs and does not represent the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA.

Estimating Your Annual Direct Billing

• How to Calculate:
  • Subtract your gift awards and accepted student loans from the total of your actual tuition, fees, and room and board.
  • Do not subtract work-study eligibility.
  • Your final charges will reflect your confirmed enrollment level and housing selection.

Additional Resources

• Financing Options:
  • Many students and parents use additional resources to cover remaining costs after financial aid.
  • Visit our Financing a Rensselaer Education page for details on common alternative funding options.